Clark Mock Trial teams see success despite interrupted season

Despite a shortened season, the Clark University intercollegiate mock trial teams performed well at their 2019–20 tournaments, earning a place at the March subnational event at Princeton University. Unfortunately, that competition was canceled due to the COVID-19 crisis.

In the fall semester, the A and B teams — both coached by Steve Kennedy ’88 — competed on home turf at the Cougar Classic Invitational Mock Trial Tournament, held at Clark in November and won by the Clark A team.  That team also competed in the University of New Hampshire Invitational Tournament in the fall, where it placed third.

In January 2020, both teams competed in the Commonwealth Classic Invitational at UMass Amherst. The Clark A team finished with a record of 4-3-1, while the novice B team finished 2-6. The A team faced competitors from UMass Amherst, Bowdoin College, Amherst College, and Hamilton College, while the B team competed against teams from LaSalle University, St. John’s University, the University of Rochester, and Fordham University. Owen Mortner ’22 won a Best Witness Award for the A team at the UMass Amherst tournament.

Both teams competed in the regional tournament held at Iona College in New Rochelle, N.Y., in February. The B team compiled a 5-2-1 record, while the A team’s record was 4-4. The B team went up against teams from Wellesley College, Pace University, SUNY Buffalo, and Stockton University, while the B team played teams from Tufts University, Boston University, Pace University, and the University of Connecticut. The A team won the Spirit of AMTA (American Mock Trial Association) Award for sportsmanship, and Colleen Falconer ’22 won an Outstanding Attorney Award for the A team.

Because of its strong showing at the regional tournament, the B team won an at-large bid to compete in the subnational tournament scheduled to be held at Princeton University in March.  Clark reconfigured the B team for the tournament; however, the event was canceled because of COVID-19.

Members of the Clark A team are Emily Abbott ’21, Dela Bernard ’23, Jordan Blocher ’21, Colleen Falconer ’22, Alex Gullotti ’21, Owen Mortner ’22, and Noah Rowan ’23. B team members are Josie Fitzgerald ’23, Jillian Grande ’23, Rachael Howe ’21, Willis Jordan ’23, Will Mahan ’23, Erin Mouradian ’23, Glory Phipps ’23, Julie Reed ’21, Jeff Rivard ’23, Jemma Sager ’20, and Aaron Wolfson ’21.

The students who would have competed for Clark’s team at the canceled subnational tournament at Princeton are Colleen Falconer, Josie Fitzgerald, Jillian Grande, Erin Mouradian, Glory Phipps, Julie Reed, Jeff Rivard, Jemma Sager, and Aaron Wolfson.